Working with zip files

Character validation of entry paths

Each platform has its own rules governing which characters can be
used in file names. zipcreator does not restrict you from using such
characters in entry paths.

However, if you extract or drag an entry containing characters
not supported on the host system, zipcreator will alert you.

This flexible approach lets you prepare zip files on one platform
for use on other platforms, without the zip files inheriting the
limitations of the first platform.

Parent directories of added entries

When files and directories are added to the list, the directory
structure is preserved relative to the first entry added.

This principle is best understood by practising adding entries
from various directories, but the following examples may help.

If the first file you add is C:\My
Documents\Recent work\Notes.txt, the entry will be added at the top
level, i.e. it has no parent directory.

If you then browse to the directory C:\My
Documents\Recent work\Sketches\ and add the file Portrait.riff,
this entry will have a path of Sketches/Portrait.riff.
This is because subsequent entries have their directory structure
preserved relative to the first entry added.

If you add the file C:\Reminder.txt,
this entry will have a path of Reminder.txt
and, like the first entry, it will be added at the top level.

If you add the directory C:\Database\Data,
an entry named Data/ is created. Entries
also appear for the contents of the directory, each having a parent
directory of Data/.

After saving the zip file, zipcreator will interpret
directory structures anew. So if you then browse to the directory C:\My Documents\Recent work\Sketches\Comic\ and
add the file Storyboard.psd, this entry will
be added at the top level in the zip file, i.e. its path only contains
the file name.

Use the "Change directory..." command to
change the parent directory of selected entries. If multiple entries are
selected, the common path will be changed.

Changing the storage method of entries

By default, files added to the list of entries will have a
storage method of "Compressed". You can choose whether file
entries should be stored in a compressed or uncompressed state using the
popup menu.

Some files may not benefit from compression. After saving the zip
file, you can review the size information in the list to identify such
files. Using the popup menu, set the sort order to "Ratio as
saved". The least compressed files will then be shown at the top of
the list. You can then select any entries with a compression ratio of
100% or higher and change their storage method to
"Uncompressed".

Making changes to existing zip files

Like a word processor application, the changes you make in
zipcreator are only committed when you choose to save them.

An asterisk appears against the name of an opened zip file to
indicate that changes have been made since the file was opened.

zipcreator will prompt you to save your changes
before exiting the application and before creating or opening another
zip file.

Adding file entries

Added entries are only written to a zip file when the zip file is
saved. Do not move, rename or delete the source files of added entries
before saving the zip file.

Missing directory entries

Prior to saving, zipcreator checks all entry paths for associated
directory entries. The following prompt may appear.

zipcreator offers to create all missing directory entries for
you. For example, if an entry has the path Installation/Readme.txt,
but has no corresponding Installation
directory entry.

Directory entries are not essential to the structure
of zip files, but do improve their legibility. Without directory
entries, a zip file will not contain information about empty
directories.

Using multiple instances of zipcreator

If you open a second zipcreator window you can:

Create a subset of a zip file using copy and paste or drag
and drop to populate the second window.

Split a zip file into two smaller files by selecting some
entries and cutting them to the clipboard. Then paste them into the
second window and save both files.

Open a zip file from inside the list of entries by dragging
the entry to the title bar of the second window. This lets you view
the contents of the dragged zip file, while leaving the original zip
file open.

When dragging or pasting an individual entry, the
directory structure will not be preserved. This behaviour only applies
to individual entries.

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